Charting the NF-κB Pathway Interactome Map

Inflammation is part of a complex physiological response to harmful stimuli and pathogenic stress. The five components of the Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) family are prominent mediators of inflammation, acting as key transcriptional regulators of hundreds of genes. Several signaling pathways activated by diverse stimuli converge on NF-κB activation, resulting in a regulatory system characterized by high complexity. It is increasingly recognized that the number of components that impinges upon phenotypic outcomes of signal transduction pathways may be higher than those taken into consideration from canonical pathway representations. Scope of the present analysis is to provide a wider, systemic picture of the NF-κB signaling system. Data from different sources such as literature, functional enrichment web resources, protein-protein interaction and pathway databases have been gathered, curated, integrated and analyzed in order to reconstruct a single, comprehensive picture of the proteins that interact with, and participate to the NF-κB activation system. Such a reconstruction shows that the NF-κB interactome is substantially different in quantity and quality of components with respect to canonical representations. The analysis highlights that several neglected but topologically central proteins may play a role in the activation of NF-κB mediated responses. Moreover the interactome structure fits with the characteristics of a bow tie architecture. This interactome is intended as an open network resource available for further development, refinement and analysis

Averting biodiversity collapse in tropical forest protected areas

The rapid disruption of tropical forests probably imperils global biodiversity more than any other contemporary phenomenon¹⁻³. With deforestation advancing quickly, protected areas are increasingly becoming final refuges for threatened species and natural ecosystem processes. However, many protected areas in the tropics are themselves vulnerable to human encroachment and other environmental stresses⁴⁻⁹. As pressures mount, it is vital to know whether existing reserves can sustain their biodiversity. A critical constraint in addressing this question has been that data describing a broad array of biodiversity groups have been unavailable for a sufficiently large and representative sample of reserves. Here we present a uniquely comprehensive data set on changes over the past 20 to 30 years in 31 functional groups of species and 21 potential drivers of environmental change, for 60 protected areas stratified across the world’s major tropical regions. Our analysis reveals great variation in reserve ‘health’: about half of all reserves have been effective or performed passably, but the rest are experiencing an erosion of biodiversity that is often alarmingly widespread taxonomically and functionally. Habitat disruption, hunting and forest-product exploitation were the strongest predictors of declining reserve health. Crucially, environmental changes immediately outside reserves seemed nearly as important as those inside in determining their ecological fate, with changes inside reserves strongly mirroring those occurring around them. These findings suggest that tropical protected areas are often intimately linked ecologically to their surrounding habitats, and that a failure to stem broad-scale loss and degradation of such habitats could sharply increase the likelihood of serious biodiversity declines.Keywords: Ecology, Environmental scienc

Does overvaluation of bidder stock drive acquisitions? The case of public and private targets

We test the implications of the Misvaluation hypothesis (Shleifer and Vishny, 2003) for a large sample of acquirers of private and public target firms. Consistent with the Misvaluation hypothesis we find that acquirers are overvalued. The overvaluation is higher for stock acquisitions of private targets. We find that the announcement period returns are lower for firms that are overvalued at the time of acquisition. Announcement period returns are lower for larger acquisitions of public targets and higher for larger acquisitions of private targets. We also examine the factors that determine stock as the method of payment. Consistent with the Misvaluation hypothesis we find that firms that have higher valuation measures at the time of acquisition tend to use stock. Acquirers of public targets tend to use stock more frequently

Suboccipital segment of the vertebral artery: A cadaveric study

Objective: To study the course, relationships, branches and possible anomalies of the vertebral artery in the suboccipital region in adult Indian cadavers. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one suboccipital segment vertebral artery specimens from embalmed, Indian adult cadavers were dissected and studied. Dissection was performed using microsurgical instruments and was carried out from the skin up to the vertebral artery in layers. The course, relationships and the branches of the vertebral artery were studied and measurements were taken using Vernier calipers. The readings obtained were corroborated with the measurements derived from the digital images using a computer. Observations: All the vertebral arteries had a tortuous course and were covered with rich venous plexuses. None of the specimens had an anomalous course. The artery was divided into a vertical segment (Vv) between C2 and C1 vertebra and a horizontal segment (Vh) from the C1 transverse foramina to its dural entry. The mean diameter of the artery was 4.8mm. The shortest distance of Vv segment from the dural tube was 16.1mm, and the distance from the C2 ganglion was 7.2mm. The average length of the Vv segment was 15mm and the average length of the Vh segment was 35.6mm. The average of the shortest distance between the vertebral artery and the midline was 13.4mm. Conclusion: The vertebral artery has a tortuous course and is prone to accidental iatrogenic injury, which can result in devastating neurological sequelae depending on contralateral vertebral artery flow. A thorough anatomical knowledge of this segment is essential for the surgeon who intends to operate in this area

Intraoral plasmablastic non-hodgkin's lymphoma associated with human immunodeficiency virus

Plasmablastic Lymphoma of oral cavity is an aggressive rare form of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is an Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome defining condition. Head and neck region is the second most common area for extranodal NHL's primarily involving gingiva and palate, which often presents as a diagnostic problem. We report a case of PBL in a 19 year old female patient later diagnosed as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive. She presented with expanding painful ulceroproliferative lesion involving left mandible and gingiva of 20 days duration. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis. Uncommon discovery of multiple bony lesions in whole body CT and hypercalcemia raise a question about Multiple Myeloma (MM). Literature showed very few cases with osteolytic lesions and none of the cases reported multiple bone lesions in skull. Our case report stresses the importance of differentiating this extremely rare case of PBL with skull lesions from MM

Research and Reviews: Journal of Agriculture and Allied Sciences Studies on Effect of Modified Atmospheric Storage Condition on Storability of Groundnut (Arachishypogaea L.) Seed Kernels

ABSTRACT In modified atmospheric storage assays on seed quality of Groundnut seed kernels revealed that the seed kernels exposed to gaseous combination of 60 % N2 + 40 % CO2+ 0 % O2 and stored in 700 gauge polyethylene bag maintained better quality in terms of germination and vigour up to ten months of storage followed by vacuum storage, whereas in control, prescribed germination of 70% was noticed up to four months only. Among the packaging materials, groundnut seed kernels stored in 700 gauge polyethylene bag showed better seed quality parameters viz., germination (60 %), root length (5.23 cm), shoot length (4.29cm), seedling vigour index (522), dehydrogenase enzyme activity (0.103 OD value) and lower electrical conductivity of seed leachate (1.127 dSm-1) after tenth months of storageas compared to 400gauge polyethylene bag. The aim of the study was to determine the level of gaseous combination and storage containers on effective storage of groundnut seeds. INTRODUCION Groundnut (Arachishypogaea L.) -King of oilseed crops‖, is believed to be native of Brazil (South America). It was introduced in India during first half of the sixteenth century. It belongs to the family leguminoceae (Fabaceae) and sub family papilonoceae. The cultivated form of groundnut has been classified into two major groups viz., valentia or Spanish type (ArachishypogaeaL. sub spp. festigata ) and (Arachishypogaea L. sub spp. hypogaea). It is a unique crop combining the attributes of both oil seed crop and legume crop in the farming system of Indian Agriculture. It is a valuable crop planted in dry areas of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Australia and Caribbean in view of its economic, food and nutritional value. Maintaining the quality of groundnut seed in postharvest environment is demanding and often very difficult task. Most of the problems ofmaintainance of seed quality results from the methods used to harvest, store and process the peanuts. Damage from combining or from the equipment used in handling and processing operations, improper drying treatment, poor storage condition, inadequate protection from dirt mold, insects and rodents and similar causes of quality deterioration are very difficult to control or prevent. After the peanuts are shelled, controlling the quality deterioration becomes more difficult because the seeds are much more sensitive to condition and environments that causes loss of quality. Better methods and techniques are needed to improve conditions and environments that cause quality deterioration. A low-oxygen atmosphere system for handling peanut seed appears to be more potential for improving conventional practices. Study of disinfestations of stored seeds using modified atmosphere storage (MA) involves the alteration of the natural storage gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) to render the atmosphere in the storage is lethal to pests. The MA includes neither the alteration of the storage atmosphere by addition of toxic gases such as phosphine or methyl bromide nor atmospheric water content. The MA may be achieved in several ways by adding gaseous or solid CO2, by adding a gas of low O2 content (e.g., pure N2 or output from a hydrocarbon burner) or by allowing metabolic processes within an airtight storage to remove O2, usually with associated release of CO2. Such anatmosphere isreferred to as ‗high-CO2', ‗low-O2' and -hermetic storage' atmospheres, respectively, they are collectively known as ‗modified atmospheres&apos